Kiss Me (Like You Wanna Be Loved)

Chapter Sixteen: Enough

Of all the things Bokuto has talked him into, this has to be the worst.

"I'm not wearing that."

"Aghaasheee!"

"I agreed to go to the party. I did not agree to wearing a costume."

"It's a Halloween party! You gotta!"

"I most certainly do not."

Bokuto pouts, which always looks a little ridiculous due to his size and build, but especially so right now when he's dressed like a superhero. The volleyball team members have agreed on a group costume, so they're all going as characters from My Hero Academia. Bokuto is dressed as All Might, which means he's wearing a very tight spandex unitard, which Keiji... doesn't hate.

But he's trying to get Keiji to wear his volleyball uniform-jersey, shorts, kneepads, everything. And perhaps if he only wanted Keiji to wear it in the bedroom for him he could be persuaded. But wearing it to a party that half their school is attending? Wearing it in front of Bokuto's teammates and Keiji's coworkers and all of their classmates? It's the very definition of a bad idea. Not only is it surely against the volleyball team's code of conduct, but Bokuto clearly hasn't considered the implications of Keiji walking around in Bokuto's clothes with Bokuto's name branded across his back.

"It's not going to happen," Keiji informs him. "We can continue arguing about it if you'd like, but you will not win."

He huffs. "Fine! But if you feel left out 'cause you're the only one not wearing a costume, you can't get mad at me!"

"Fair enough."

Keiji is not the only person not wearing a costume, though most people are dressed up. Still, Keiji is totally fine with being in the minority on this one.

The party is being held in a large event venue, the type used for wedding receptions and extravagant birthday parties. There's pounding music and strobe lights and a bar area for people of age to buy drinks. As Keiji takes in the Halloween-themed decorations he realizes he doesn't even know who's hosting this thing. He's only here because Bokuto begged and agreed to the stipulation that Keiji will not, under any circumstances, be dancing.

As soon as they get inside, Keiji and Bokuto make their way to the volleyball team's designated meeting spot off in one corner. Apparently they want to get a group picture before the night dissolves into chaos and they start sweating through their costumes.

Keiji doesn't know most of Bokuto's teammates, but there are a few familiar faces-Oikawa is in a pink and black jumpsuit and hanging all over Iwaizumi, who's wearing a spiky blonde wig and dressed in black and orange. It's also easy to spot Hinata, wearing a green wig and a matching uniform as he bounces around excitedly. Then Keiji sees Tsukishima, standing off to the side of the main group.

"No costume?" Keiji asks, coming up next to him.

He gives his head a little shake. "I had enough trouble helping Kuroo with his."

It takes Keiji a minute to pick out Kuroo in the crowd-he has disembodied hands attached all over his body, including one covering most of his face. "I see."

"Kuroo doesn't," Tsukishima says with a smirk. "He keeps walking into walls."

After coercing Keiji and Tsukishima into taking a few dozen group photos, the volleyball team splits up as everyone heads out to the dance floor. Tsukishima joins them, dragged along by Kuroo, while Bokuto lingers back, staying behind with Keiji.

The two of them settle down in one of the seating areas that overlooks the dance floor, and Bokuto makes no move to leave him. Even when a girl from one of Bokuto's classes stops by to say hi and ask him to dance. He declines, and as soon as she walks away he jumps right back into the story he was telling Keiji about something ridiculous Oikawa did in practice the other day.